What’s the Best Oxford for Your Budget? (2025)
Like many people across the world, my oxfords have not seen too much wear since office dress codes changed in 2020. However, as style – and economic doom and gloom newspaper articles – have changed, we might be seeing a few more of these soon. In light of that, it might be worth taking a look at the best oxford in each price range, along with a few close seconds.
For those who are not aware, an oxford is a lace-up shoe with closed lacing. In other words, the toe panel sits on top of the panels that features the lacing. These are generally considered the most formal of the common types of footwear, and are typically worn only with suits.
Are oxfords a little bit more formal than what you are looking for? Check out our Best Penny Loafer for Your Budget post here, and our Best Service Boot for Your Budget here.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best choices in every budget.
What’s the Best Oxford Under $100
- Anything from Nordstrom Rack – $29+
When it comes to formal shoes in this price range, you’ll be giving up a lot compared to other brackets. Often, you’ll end up spending a lot more overall. These shoes are almost always cemented construction and made with upper leather that wouldn’t last through a resole anyway.
That being said, for many men you might only wear an oxford once or twice a year. It doesn’t make sense to pay several hundred dollars for a pair you’ll rare so rarely.
If this is you, I’d checking Nordstrom Rack for any deals they have. You can typically find something for under $100. Just be aware that most of these shoes will be made specifically designed to be sold for next to nothing at outlets. Don’t expect to get more than a few dozen wears out of them, though for many that will be enough.
What’s the Best Oxford under $250
Moving from the previous range to this range provides a significant increase in quality. Here, you’ll generally find stitched construction, higher quality full or top grain leather, and features like a leather footbed. All of these mean a longer lasting, more comfortable shoe.
If you live in New York or Spain, or already know your size, it’s hard to argue with the Meermin Cap Toe Oxford. Featuring a calf upper and goodyear welt stitching, it’s a lot of value. That is even more the case that Meermin has barely the price since I first started this list way back in 2020. It’s only gone up $10 – $2 per year.
Unfortunately, for everyone else, there is one major drawback – the shoes are only available in limited stores in Europe and just one store in North America (which is currently closed). If you need to buy online, the shipping costs will push the shoes into the next category. Further, returns are not free and exchanges each require a new shipping fee, so finding the right size can be expensive and time-consuming.
If you’re worried that the Meermin Cap Toe might be a bit too hard to wear every day, the Amberjack the Cap Toe is a much more comfortable option. You’re not going to confuse it for the much more formal picks elsewhere on this list. However, if you travel a lot or on your feet a lot, these should be under consideration. If you want to know more, you can find the full review here.
What’s the Best Oxford under $400
- Allen Edmonds Park Ave (Seconds) – $325* ($299)
For those of us who wear oxfords multiple days a week, this price bracket is likely to provide the best return on investment. It’s a fair expectation that you’ll be able to get decades of wear out of these with proper care. I’ve also found that the higher end materials from here on out creates a more comfortable pair of shoes when running from meeting to meeting.
While it had lost it’s top spot, this year the winner goes back to the Allen Edmonds Park Avenue (Seconds). For generations, the Park Ave was the go-to for the cap toe oxford, and the seconds (which had minor flaws) offered an affordable way to enter the world of Allen Edmonds. A review of a pair was one of the first posts on this website.
It’s easy to see why. They are offered in a half dozen colors, various outsoles, 9 (!!!) different widths. Further, almost every major city has at least one Allen Edmonds store. For those who didn’t, the line was carried by Nordstrom. Trying them on was easy.
Unfortunately, over the past few years Allen Edmonds has lowered the bar for acceptable seconds. Even more egregious, they now charge a $25 restocking fee when returning them. However, with so many others leaving this price bracket, it’s nice to see someone still offering an option here.
What’s the Best Oxford under $600
In the $400-$600 price bracket, the number of choices available expands significantly. Buyers can be a bit more particular about what they are shopping for. It also allows for more interesting types of stitching, such as Rancourt’s Blake-Rapid line [Review Here], if you’re looking for something other than Goodyear welting.
Perhaps the most appealing shoe in this price range is the Carmina Dress Oxford. Carmina is known for their attention to detail, and this pair will not disappoint. With tight welt stitching, closed channel outsoles, and small details like nails in the toe to extend the life of the sole, the Carmina Dress Oxford is a product that feels worth the premium. Unfortunately, it is not an obvious choice. One item that stands out is that this shoe only comes in a single width. If you’re not a D width, these will not fit your foot in the way they should for more than $500.
Thankfully, by going to this price point you can resolve the biggest issue with the Allen Edmonds Park Ave by going with Firsts (Allen Edmonds themselves offer more widths, but Nordstrom interestingly offers more colors). With first-quality and the ability to easily return, buying this shoe is a much simpler process than the Seconds. However, it still retains all the benefits mentioned above. The Park Avenue is not going to have the quality of the Carmina, especially after the recent quality drop, but is going to fit significantly more foot shapes.
What’s the Best Oxford under $850
Where the previous price point offered almost too many options, there is a surprisingly limited number of choices that can easily be found globally. Thankfully, what is available is worthy of the cost if you have dollars to spend.
Much like the previous price point, the winner here is a shoe that focuses on getting the little things right – the Crockett & Cones Connaught. The C&J oxford offers a meticulous attention to detail, often in places only the wearer will notice. For example, the stitch density on the outsole of this shoe is a work of art. Even though you’ll be rubbing it against the floor as you walk.
It’s fair to think of wearing a pair of these as an event.
Another alternative is the Alden Straight Tip Bal. Much like the Carmina vs. the Park Ave, the Alden here trades some manufacturing excellence for sizing options and availability. That isn’t to say this shoe is poorly put together. It is still a $690 dollar pair of oxfords after all. It just doesn’t have the same level of near perfect construction that the C&J pair does.
What’s the Best Oxford for Any Price
- Winner: Edward Green Chelsea – $1,520
At this price point, there are variety of places to spend your excess cash. Unfortunately, many brands in this price point go too far in trying justify their cost. You’ll find odd looking lasts, too many – or too few – lace holes, etc. An oxford is designed to be a shoe that compliments a more formal outfit, not stand out.
Knowing that, it’s hard to say that anything short of a custom shoe does a better job of representing the pinnacle of the oxford than the Edward Green Chelsea. And boy does Edward Green know it – this shoe has gone from $1,000 to over $1,500 since I started this list. Still, this shoe is the old money of the oxford world. It has everything you could possibly want, but it doesn’t shout it at everyone who walks down the street.
Sure, the Edward Green Chelsea costs as much as a mortgage payment, but is your house this well built?
Do you agree with my list? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.
I have a dozen pair of Allen Edmonds and Aldens that were purchased in the early 70s. They have never been resoled as I’ve used sole savers on all. It is truly a Damn shame how far Allen Edmonds has gone. At the time of my purchase they were equal. To me Allen Edmonds was the more comfortable shoes but both would last a lifetime. I’m a fan of Crockett and Jones but I have 12 A foot and it’s difficult to get the width I need.
Really great article, thanks! For the C&J, is there a particular reason for recommending the Connaught over the Radstock, Lonsdale, or others? Looking at their site, they have a confusing variety of oxfords on different lasts.
Hey David –
C&J definitely has a lot of different Oxfords to pick from. For me, the first decision is if you want handgrade or benchgrade. The handgrade ones (Audley, Lonsdale, etc.) are going to be $150-200 more, and are slightly nicer materials and a little bit more handwork. If you have the money they are excellent, but personally I find benchgrades offer all of the “C&J”ness that justify the step up from something like Alden or Carmina and don’t see much value in going up to handgrade. On the Connaught vs. Hallam, Radstock, etc. the Connaught is the most classic designed last. It’s a last from 60+ years ago, where as the other options are much more recent – only 10-15 years old I believe. I think the C&J build works better with a less contemporary toe – you can also get the Connaught in more colors, materials, and outsole options.
All that being said, there isn’t a huge difference between them. In fact, as I type up this reply, C&J uses the exact same picture for the Radstock in G as the Connaught in E – even they can’t tell them apart!
I saw your other comment related to ebay – adding that in, so long as the pair fits you and you like the last shape, all of them will be a great pair of Oxfords. Hope this is helpful!